Nepal at a Crossroads: Government Urged for Radical Reform

Nepal stands at a turning point in its history, where mere reforms cannot change the country's face. To accelerate our economy, trapped in a cycle of long-term political instability and economic recession, the current government must completely abandon the traditional style of politics. In the past, old parties fought many struggles for the system, but some mistakes they made—especially party factionalism, policy deviations, and a tendency to focus more on speeches than work—should serve as lessons for the current government. Now, the government's success will depend solely on its performance and the results felt by the public.

Administrative reform should be the main pillar of the current government. Our civil administration has long been a victim of political interference and inertia. To make the administration result-oriented, a clear policy of 'punishment and reward' must now be implemented. Attractive service facilities and performance-based incentive allowances should be arranged to encourage employees. Furthermore, it is imperative to implement a 'lateral entry' policy to bring in skilled experts from the private sector for specific and technical positions, which will bring new thinking and professionalism into the administration. De-politicizing the administration and prioritizing the merit system is the first step towards reform.

The state should stop the practice of intimidating citizens in the name of maintaining good governance. The state's job is not to keep citizens, traders, or the media in an atmosphere of fear, but rather to encourage them to walk the right path. The current government should focus on 'radish farming,' not 'issue farming.' Because, when farming radishes, at least Gundruk, pickle, or kimchi can be made from them, which directly supports the economy. Issue farming without evidence does nothing but make society fearful and tarnish the investment environment. Good governance is not fear; it is the feeling of the rule of law.

The government needs to understand that the argument 'I am here to work, not to talk' is incomplete in itself. Transparency is the main pillar of good governance; therefore, communicating with citizens is also an equally important task of the state. The government should not speak indiscriminately, but it must continuously communicate with the general public on necessary matters. Citizens must be able to understand the government's steps and trust them, for which honesty in the government's speech and transparency in its actions are both essential.

The dream of prosperity cannot be realized without a radical change in the education system. Investment in education is the assurance of the future. Therefore, to attract capable and qualified teachers, their salary scales and service facilities must be made respectable, which will help maintain their professional dignity. Furthermore, the complete 'digitalization' of school education is the need of the hour for improving educational quality. Only an education system with artificial intelligence, smart classrooms, online learning platforms, and skill-based curricula will make Nepali students competitive in the global market.

Nepal's economy must be correctly defined and transformed from a 'remittance-based consumerist' state to a 'production and export-oriented self-reliant' economy. For this, agriculture, tourism, and hydropower must be promoted as 'economic drivers.' Policy stability must be ensured by rolling out the 'red carpet' for foreign investment. As long as domestic production does not account for a large share of consumption, external shocks will continue to shake the economy.

To stop the exodus of the young generation, employment opportunities must be created in both villages and cities. By providing special concessions to small and medium enterprises and the information technology sector, the state's investment should be focused on projects of long-term significance rather than past distribution-oriented plans. Cutting the root of policy corruption and making government mechanisms technologically friendly and efficient is the key to the government's success.

In conclusion, there is strong willpower in the government, and it must work liberally with this psychology. If the government can ensure administrative reform, high investment in education and health, structural transformation of the economy, transparent communication with citizens, and an environment free from fear, Nepal will move forward on the path to prosperity. Not wasting this opportunity is the historical responsibility of the current government.